Climbers, epiphytes, shrubs and trees. Leaves crosswise opposite, simple, often with three parallel main veins. Stipules absent. Flowers usually bisexual, often showy, stamens often with anthers that open via apical pores, ovary (half) inferior, usually 4-5-celled. Fruits berries.
General info
Distribution Pantropical. 4950 species. Ecology Forest understoreys and secondary growth. Pollination often by bees, fruits of some species eaten by birds. Uses Ornamental, edible fruits. Similar to Myrtaceae, but these have pellucid dots in leaves and numerous stamens. Crypteroniaceae but these have thickened twigs at nodes, petals that are minute or absent and anthers without appendages.
Family description
Climbers, epiphytes, shrubs and trees.Leaves crosswise opposite, simple, often with three parallel main veins. Stipules absent.
Flowers usually bisexual, often showy, stamens often with anthers that open via apical pores, ovary (half) inferior, usually 4-5-celled.
Fruits berries.
General info
Distribution Pantropical. 4950 species.Ecology Forest understoreys and secondary growth. Pollination often by bees, fruits of some species eaten by birds.
Uses Ornamental, edible fruits.
Similar to Myrtaceae, but these have pellucid dots in leaves and numerous stamens. Crypteroniaceae but these have thickened twigs at nodes, petals that are minute or absent and anthers without appendages.
Treated genera
Melastomataceae.pdf
Melastoma malabathricum
Memecylon calyptratum